The Water Pollution Dilemma Khadija Tabreek The issue of water pollution has become adverse in Pakistan. It is only intensifying with each passing day. According to the United Nation International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), 20 to 40 per cent of hospital beds in Pakistan are filled with patients suffering from waterborne diseases. Moreover, Pakistan has a horrifying rate of infant mortality caused by water-related diarrhoea: a staggering 60 per cent. This is the highest ratio in Asia, as per the report of the International Union on Conservation of Nature (IUCN). There are multiple sources of water pollution in Pakistan. The industrial sector constitutes one of the biggest chunks of water pollution sources. Several factories release their effluents without prior treatment into the freshwater body sources The wastewater from industries contains hazardous pollutants in greater amounts, such as heavy metals, toxic chemicals, radioactive waste and organic pollutants. The main water pollution contributor industries in Pakistan are petrochemicals, tanneries, refineries, textile and sugar industries, paper and pulp, food processing. As per a special report by WWF on water pollution in Pakistan, Environmental audits are conducted by only a marginal number of industries (about five per cent of national industries). The textile and sugar industries are major sources of industrial water pollution. The problem of industrial water pollution has remained uncontrolled because there have been little or no incentives for industries to treat their effluents. The role of provincial environmental protection agencies (EPAs) in combatting this issue effectively is not adequate.